MacDonald Nets 2 Goals, Fire Tops Red Bulls 2-0

Brandon Barklage #25 of New York Red Bulls and Sherjill Macdonald #7 of Chicago Fire fight for the ball during their match at Red Bull Arena on October 6, 2012 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Sherjill MacDonald scored two second-half goals, lifting the Chicago Fire to a crucial 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

The Fire (17-10-5) jumped three points ahead of the Red Bulls (15-9-8) in the Eastern Conference, with two games remaining, and moved closer to earning a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs. Chicago can get in if Columbus loses to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.

New York dropped to 11-2-3 at home.

MacDonald broke a scoreless tie in the 65th minute by getting past two Red Bulls defenders off a fine lead pass from Chris Rolfe, then hitting a shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles.

MacDonald, who had only two goals this season before Saturday, made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, taking a pass from Daniel Paladini and sprinting past two defenders to touch it gently past Robles.